Ballistic firearms container

ABSTRACT

A ballistic firearms container. The container includes a base plate and sidewalls vertically extending relative to the base plate. The sidewalls include at least one rim forming an opening leading into the container. The container further includes a ballistic plate made of a bullet resistant material capable of absorbing an impact from a firearm. The ballistics plate is vertically extending relative to the base plate. A connector is configured to secure a firearm to the base plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/393,516, filed Sep. 12, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to transporting loaded firearms and, more particularly, to a ballistic firearms container used for transporting loaded firearms.

In the event that a weapon is confiscated during the commission of a crime, the arresting officer must return the weapon to the central police office as evidence. Any ammunition still in the weapon is left in place as evidence, which means the officer must transport a loaded firearm in a vehicle. The loaded firearm may discharge while being transported and potentially injure an officer or bystander.

Existing gun safes or boxes have little to no ballistic resistance. Therefore, any accidental discharge of a weapon results in a round exiting the container. Also, a separate sized box or safe is required to hold a long rifle, since safes and boxes designed for handguns are not capable of storing a long rifle of any form.

As can be seen, there is a need for a ballistic firearms container used for transporting loaded firearms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a ballistic firearms container comprises: a base plate; sidewalls vertically extending relative to the base plate, the sidewalls comprising at least one rim forming an opening leading into the container; a ballistic plate made of a bullet resistant material capable of absorbing an impact from a firearm, the ballistic plate vertically extending relative to the base plate; and a connector configured to secure a firearm to the base plate.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the present invention taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a section detail view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in use with an exemplary rifle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a ballistic firearms container for pistols and rifles for use by law enforcement and others. The present invention allows safe transportation of weapons from the field to the evidence room or lab for processing without endangering the personnel around. The present invention encases the weapon and directs any accidental discharge into a ballistically capable material, thereby containing a blast in a controlled manner. The present invention holds both handguns and rifles while maintaining a relatively small size for ease of use. The present invention also provides a double fail-safe system for securing the weapon in the correct orientation for maximum protection.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the present invention includes a ballistic firearms container. The container includes a base plate 14 and sidewalls 17 vertically extending relative to the base plate 14. The sidewalls 17 include at least one rim forming an opening leading into the container. The container further includes a ballistic plate 16,18 made of a bullet resistant material capable of absorbing an impact from a firearm. The ballistic plate 16,18 is vertically extending relative to the base plate 14. A connector 20 is configured to secure a firearm 34 to the base plate 14.

The container of the present invention may include an outer shell 10. The outer shell 10 may be made of a strong metal, such as steel, iron, brass and the like. The outer shell 10 includes a base 15 and sidewalls 17 vertically extending from the base 15. In certain embodiments, the outer shell 10 may be about 13″×10″×5″. However, the dimensions of the outer shell 10 may vary. The outer shell 10 may be about 2 mm up to about 4 mm thick, such as about 3 mm thick. To form the outer shell 10, the metal may be folded and then spot welded 44 together in all four corners with extra reinforcement (extra spot welds, wider tabs) at the armored end of the outer shell 10.

The base plate 14 of the present invention may rest on the base 14 of the outer shell 10. In certain embodiments, the base plate 14 may be fastened to the base 14 of the outer shell 10. For example, the base plate 14 may be adhered by an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener and the like to the base 15. The base plate 14 may be about 4-8 mm thick, such as about 6 mm thick. The base plate 14 may be made of a polymer such as DELRIN®, High-density polyethylene (HDPE), expanded Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other strong polymers. The base plate 14 may be truncated by approximate 0.75″ on the armored end of the outer casing 10 to accommodate the insertion of the ballistic plate 16,18.

In certain embodiments, the outer shell 10 of the present invention includes an upper rim forming a top opening and an inner rim forming a rifle opening 28 through one of the sidewalls 17. The rifle opening 28 is sized to fit a handguard or barrel of a rifle 36 therethrough. Exterior straps may be used to keep the rifle 36 in place.

In certain embodiments, the connector 20 may include straps, clamps, magnets 20 a,20 b and the like. For example, the present invention may include a first magnetic material 20 a attached to the base plate 14 at a central location and a second magnetic material 20 b attached to the base plate 14 adjacent to the rifle opening 28. The first and second magnetic material 20 a,20 b may be rare earth magnets. The base plate 15 may include cut outs that hold the magnets 20 within. The magnets 20 may be held in place by their magnetic field attraction to the outer shell 10 which may be made of a ferrous material.

In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a rifle opening cover 24. The rifle opening cover 24 includes a base and a vertically extending portion. The base may include a magnetic material 26 that is attracted to the second magnetic material 20 b. The rifle opening cover 24 is used to cover the rifle opening 28 of the outer shell 10 when the container is being used to transport a pistol 34.

The present invention may further include a plurality of apertures 30 formed through the sidewall 17. In certain embodiments, the plurality of apertures 30 are cutouts of the rim of the sidewall. The apertures 20 may include around two up to six or more vents, such as four vents.

The ballistic firearms container may further include a lid 12 sized to fit over the rim of the sidewall 17 and cover the opening. The lid 12 may be made of strong metal such as steel, brass, iron and the like. The lid 12 may be about 2-4 mm thick, such as about 3 mm thick.

The present invention may further include bands 32 having a rubber elasticity. The rubber elasticity holds the lid 12 in place but moves enough to allow discharge of excess gas pressure 40 from the apertures 30 if there is an accidental discharge of the weapon or explosion. The bands 32 may wrap around the outer shell 10 and the lid 12. The ends of the bands may include a fastener 42, such as a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive, clips, ties and the like. The bands 32 connect and secure the lid 12 to the top of the outer shell 10 covering the opening. The lid 12 may fit loosely on the top of the outer casing to allow expansion of the interior volume in case of an explosion or discharge. Since the bands 32 are elastic and the lid 12 and bands 32 absorb energy of a blast and the apertures 30 allow gases 40 to escape safely from the container.

The present invention may further utilize a spray coating of anti-spall polyurethane on the entire inner and outer surfaces of the outer shell 10 and lid 12. The coating may be a polyurethane anti-spall weatherizing coating.

The ballistic plate 16,18 may be secured at an end of the outer casing 10. In certain embodiments, the ballistic plate 16,18 is positioned in between the base plate 14 and an end wall of the sidewall 17. The bullet resistant material may include, but is not limited to, polyethylene, aramid, graphene, metal (steel, brass and the like), ceramic or a combination thereof. For example, the ballistic plate 16, 18 may be made of a layer of metal 16 and a layer of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene 17. The metal 16 may be a 3 mm steel armor plate. The Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene may be 18 mm thick and may be a compressed unidirectional fabric layer. The layers combined form a NIJ Certified Level III armor plate. In certain embodiments the ballistic plate 16,18 could be enhanced up to level IV. In certain embodiments, the outer casing 10 and lid 14 may be made of the ballistic plate material on all sides.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. When a weapon is acquired in the field, the officer opens the lid 12 by detaching the adhesives 42 of the straps 32. Upon opening the container, the user may clearly recognize the ballistic plate 16,18 disposed at least at one end of the outer shell 10. The use may align the barrel so it aimed directly at the ballistic plate 16, 18 and place the firearm into direct contact of the first magnetic material 20 a which holds the firearm in position aimed at the ballistic plate 16,18. If the weapon is a rifle 36, the rifle opening cover 24 is removed to allow the barrel of the rifle 36 to enter through the rifle opening 28 to be attached to the second magnetic material 20 b. In some embodiments, the rifle 36 may be strapped in place using additional straps. The lid 12 is then placed on the outer casing 10 and strapped down using the straps 32. The weapon is now safe for transportation. In case of a discharge of a projectile 38, the ballistic plate 16, 18 may be replaceable.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ballistic firearms container comprising: a base plate; sidewalls vertically extending relative to the base plate, the sidewalls comprising at least one rim forming an opening leading into the container; a ballistic plate made of a bullet resistant material capable of absorbing an impact from a firearm, the ballistic plate vertically extending relative to the base plate; and a connector configured to secure a firearm to the base plate.
 2. The ballistic firearms container of claim 1, further comprising an outer shell formed of a metal, the outer shell comprising a base and the sidewalls vertically extending from the base, wherein the base plate is resting on the base.
 3. The ballistic firearms container of claim 2, wherein the base plate is made of a polymer and the ballistic plate is made of a layer of metal and a layer of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
 4. The ballistic firearms container of claim 1, wherein the at least one rim comprises an upper rim forming a top opening and an inner rim forming a rifle opening through one of the sidewalls, wherein the rifle opening is sized to fit a handguard of a rifle therethrough.
 5. The ballistic firearms container of claim 4, wherein the connector comprises a first magnetic material attached to the base plate at a central location and a second magnetic material attached to the base plate adjacent to the rifle opening.
 6. The ballistic firearms container of claim 5, further comprising a rifle opening cover comprising a base and a vertically extending portion sized to cover the rifle opening, wherein the base comprises a magnetic material attracted to the second magnetic material.
 7. The ballistic firearms container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of apertures formed through the sidewall.
 8. The ballistic firearms container of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures are formed by cutouts of the rim of the sidewall.
 9. The ballistic firearms container of claim 8, further comprising a lid sized to fit over the rim of the sidewall and cover the opening.
 10. The ballistic firearms container of claim 9, further comprising a band comprising a rubber elasticity, wherein the band wraps around the lid and the outer shell, securing the lid to the outer shell. 